Harleysville shareholders approve merger with First Niagara

Shareholders of Harleysville National Corp. have approved the Pennsylvania company’s merger with First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.

More than 97 percent of the votes cast, and 76 percent of Harleysville shares outstanding, were voted in favor of the transaction. The vote took place Jan. 22.

Pending regulatory approval, First Niagara’s $237 million purchase of Harleysville (Nasdaq: HNBC) will close by the end of the first quarter.

First Niagara (Nasdaq: FNFG) is based in Buffalo, and has 171 First Niagara Bank branches in upstate New York and the Pittsburgh market. Buying Harleysville, which is based in Harleysville, Pa., will add 83 branches in the Philadelphia market.

First Niagara has regional headquarters in Albany, N.Y., and about 50 area branches.